'Rockers edge Jimmies

 

By Jeff Easton, Journal staff Monday, January 14, 2008

RAPID CITY — South Dakota Mines used an 18-4 second half run to break away from a physical Jamestown, N.D., ballclub, as the 13th-ranked Lady Hardrockers grabbed a 56-45 decision Saturday at the King Center.

Melanie Vedvei, Mines’ senior point guard, scored eight of her game-high 26 points during the Lady ’Rockers’ vital push through the heart of the second half. Freshman Loryn Schuetzle matched Vedvei’s eight points during the run, during which Mines upped its lead from  26-24 to 44-28 over a 6-1/2 minute stretch.

The run was one of the few times throughout the game that the Lady Hardrockers controlled tempo. The Jimmies had done a fine job of keeping Mines from getting its running game going throughout the game.

“We worked the ball around and found the open person,” Lady Hardrocker coach Barb Felderman said of her team’s play during the deciding run. “And we took care of the ball.”

Jamestown coach Mark Weist felt Vedvei was the difference, particularly in the second half when Mines’ All-American netted 16 points.

“She’s as tough a competitor as we have in this conference,” Weist said. “She’s just so intelligent.”

Neither team put on a shooting clinic during Saturday’s Dakota Athletic Conference tilt. The Jimmies shot a paltry 23.7 percent from the field, while Mines hit at a 26.4 percent clip.

Caught in a grinding style of play, the Lady ’Rockers went to the basket throughout the game. Mines earned 31 free throw attempts — and made 24 — by using their speed to get a step on the Jimmie defenders.

“That’s how they play, very physical and getting into us,” Felderman said. “As rough as it was, we hung in there pretty good.”

Both teams stumbled at the offensive end during the first half. Mines held a 22-16 lead, despite making only 5-of-23 field goal attempts. The Jimmies went 4-of-26 during the opening 20 minutes of play.

The Lady ’Rockers edged ahead 26-18 when Vedvei stroked a jumper at the 18:29 mark of the second half. Cori Doubek hit a pair of short jumpers and Giuli Varriano made two free throws to get the Jimmies within 26-24 with 16:18 to play.

Schuetzle scored off a high-low feed and followed with a 3-pointer to start Mines on its winning run. Vedvei scored eight points in a 2-1/2 minute span to push the ’Rockers up 42-28 with 10:21 to play. Schuetzle, who finished with 11 points, capped the run with two free throws to make it 44-28 with 9:38 to go.

The Jimmies ran off seven unanswered points to pull within 48-43 with 3:08 to play, but Vedvei assisted on Jerika Ihnen’s basket and followed with a basket off a Schuetzle miss to run Mines’ lead back to nine points.

“Our offense is putting so much pressure on our defense not to give,” Weist said. “It gave out a few times and Tech made us pay immediately.”

Doubek led Jamestown with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Varriano chipped in 12 points.

Mines (14-3, 2-1 DAC) makes its toughest road trip of the season next week, when the Lady Hardrockers play at Mayville State and Dakota State.